Round-feeding mechanism



July 5, 193s. B. P. JQYCE n 2,122,423

ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1935 12 ShetS-Sheel', 1

S14/vanto@ 476 475 452 July 5, 1938. B. p JOYCE 2,122,423

ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1935 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuambozl2 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 5, 1938. B. P. JoYCE ROUND FEEDING MECHANISMFiled Sept. 19, 1935 July 5, 1938. B. P. JoYcE 2,122,423

ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filled Sep'l'.. 19, 1935 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 km.x. m s o `www www,... m@ W ww ww ww www mm 5.5%mNwMmW WMM lwww www 4 ww@w www www www www Q w www. .Eshm l@ d .m NNKWL www .www i M ww ww www\w\ www .N www www. www ww l \m\ mv ww %.N\\\\\ FIIL f N NmN July 5,1938. B. P. JOYCE ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept; 19, 1955 12ShetS-Sheet 5 VJuly 5, 1938. B. P. JOYCE ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM FiledSept. 19,-1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 www lll.

flor/ump.

July 5, 1938. B. P. JOYCE ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 193512 Sheets-Sheet 7 .Q%\ JQX J3 @Q www @o 1.11.1.,U U f NWN wm m 1% Jmw,Qu @VX QM. @u am Q wk o A s \$mu ANR m@ .w Q Q uN EN d ma@ w@ \m\ w wJuly 5, 1938.

B. P. JOYCE ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet8 wit/nwo July 5, 1938. B. P. JOYCE ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM l2Shee'tS-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 19, 1935 July 5, 1938. B, p JOYCE 2,122,423

ROUND FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l0atroz/nuja.

B. P. JOYCE July 5, 1938.

ROUND FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 19, 1935 12 SheeiS-Sheeb 11 www mmmw.

B. P. JOYCE July 5, 1938.

ROUND FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 19, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 12Patented July 5, 1938 2,122,423 ROUND-FEEDING MEcnANTsM Bryan P. Joyce,East Orange, N. J., assigner to American Armament Corporation, New YorkN. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application September 19, 1935, SerialNo. 41,316

23 Claims. (Cl. 89-33) This application is a continuation in part of myparent U. S. application Serial No. l754,150,

led November 21, 1934.

The invention relates to round feeding mechanism for automatic guns andit aims to provide a novel magazine and actuating means therefor, anovel clip for rounds of ammunition, a novel loading tray and actuatingmeans therefor to move the rounds from the magazine and place them atthe breech of the gun, a novel loading plunger to force the rounds fromthe tray into the gun breech, a novel latch for holding the loading trayin round-placingposition, a novel latch for holding the plunger inretracted position until it should act, novel releasing means for saidlatches, novel provision for preventing iiring of the last rounddischarged from the magazine until a new clip of rounds has beeninserted into the magazine, and a light, eiiicient and desirablemechanism.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which may become apparentas description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general arrangement ofparts and showing the gunner in the gunners basket in readiness foraction.

Fig. 2 is a side` elevation partly broken away and in section. i

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view partlybroken awayshowing the parts in position for ring, herein referred to as batteryposition.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the loading tray which moves from a raisedround-receiving position to a lowered round-placing position to carry vthe rounds from the magazine to the gun breech in readiness for loading,said tray being shown in its 'raised position. r

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing `the loading tray loweredand illustrating the plunger which slides the rounds from the tray intothe gun breech, in projected position.

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams showing the actuating means for theloading tray. Fig. '7 illustrates this mechanism in battery position;Fig. 8 illustrates the relative positions of the parts of said mechanismwhen the gun recoils; Fig. 9 shows the relation of parts whencounter-recoil has almost terminated; Fig.,10 illustrates the partsreturned to battery position.

Fig. 11 is a top plan View partly in horizontal section of the loadingtray-actuating mechanism diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section showingthe same-mechanism with the parts positioned as in Fig. 8. f 5

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the parts in batteryposition.

Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line I4-I4 of Fig.13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View partly in elevationillustrating primarily parts of the firing and magazine mechanisms andparts of. the actuating means for the rotary spider which feeds therounds from the magazine.

Fig. 16 is a vertical transverse sectional view substantially on lineiii-i6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a detail side elevation of the right hand side of the gunshowing part of the operating mechanism for the above mentioned rotaryspider.

Fig. 18 is a detail end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 17, viewedfrom the right hand end of the latter.

Fig. i9 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation showing moreparticularly the manner in which the empty shell cases ejected from thegun are deflected into the receiver.

Fig. 20 is a detail rear elevation showing more particularly thedeilecting means for the empty shell cases and the loading tray latch.

Fig. 21 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 2|-2l of Fig.15 showing the ratchet pawl constituting part of the mechanism forope'rating the rotary round-feeding spider of the magazine. f 35 Fig. 22is a detail sectional view on line 22-22 of Fig. 15 showing the dogwhich holds the spider in each position to which it is turned by theratchet pawl.

Fig. 23 is a detail horizontal sectional view on '40 line 23-23 of Fig.3 showing thelatch means for holding the clips in the magazine.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary side elevation showing part of the actuatingmechanism for the firing means. 5

Fig. 25 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 25-25 of Fig.24.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary side elevation showing parts of the mechanismfor actuating and controlling the firing means, viewed as indicated bythe arrow 26 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a bottom plan view of a number of the parts shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view illustrating the principal parts of themechanism for actuating and controlling the firing means.

Fig. 29 is a top plan view.

Fig. 30 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the relationof the various parts when recoil has terminated and countergrecoil hasstarted.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal sectional vviewthrough the loading tray and the loading plunger showing said traylatched in lowered round-placing position and showing theplunger-holding latch about to be released.

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 31 but showing the tray-holding latchreleased, the tray again raised to round-receiving position, and theplunger projected.

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 30 showing thel relation of parts ascounter-recoil terminates.

Fig. 34 is a side elevation of one of the slide bars with which thetray-holding latch coacts.

Figs. 35 and 36 are respectively a top plan view and a side elevation ofthe tray-holding latch.

Fig. 37 is a top plan view of the loading tray and parts of itsactuating means.

Fig. 38 is a side elevation` of the parts shown in Fig. 37 viewed asindicated by the arrow 38 of the latter.

Fig. 39 is a side elevation of parts shown in Fig. 37 viewed asindicated by the arrow 38 thereof.

Fig. 40 is an elevation partly in section of the right side of the gunshowing the actuating means for the rotary round-feeding spider of themagazine.

Fig. 41 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 40.

Fig. 42 is a detail side elevation showing a portion of the clip rackand the empty shell case receiver by which it is carried.

Fig. 43 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 42 viewed asindicated by the arrow 48 thereof.

Fig. 44 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 44-44 of Fig. 42. n

Figs. 45 and 46 are detail horizontal sectional views on lines 45-45 and46-46 of Fig. 44.

Fig. 47 is a detail transverse sectional View substantially on line41-41 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 48 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 48-48 ofFig. 14.

'I'he specific construction shown in the drawings will be definitelydescribed with the understanding, however, that within the scope of theinvention as claimed, numerous variations may be made, the disclosurebeing illustrative rather than limiting.

I have shown an annular track 50 (Figs. 1 and 2) to be secured to anaircraft (not shown) around the edge of a cockpit. Partly overlying andpartly vwithin and concentric with the track 50, is a rotatable ring 5|from which pipes or other structural members 52 project downwardly, thelower ends of said members 52 being connected by other pipes orstructural members 53,- so that the ring 5| and the various structural-members 52, 53 cooperate in forming a gunners basket in which anadjustable seat 54 may be provided for the gunner.

Two gun-mounting side frames 59 span thel -are shown projectingoutwardly from the track 50 to be engaged by his right hand, so that bypushing or pulling on these hand grips, the gunner may rotate the entirebasket and the gun to traverse the latter. 68 merely denotes a brake forthe gunners basket having an actuating pedal 11 (Fig. l) mounted in thelower end of said basket in position to be engaged by the right foot. Asupporting plate 18 may be provided for the left foot as shown in Fig. lbut when the gun is being operated, this foot engages a firing pedal 18which is mountedin `the gunners basket and connected with the lower endof a cable 80, the upper end of this cable being connected with amechanism vhereinafter described for effecting either single shotoperation of the gun or automatic operation. As shown in Figs. 4 and 29,the cable 80 may be so engaged with a pulley 8| that vertical swingingof the gun will have no tendency to loosen or tighten said cable.

The gun is of a type to receive the rounds shown 'at 82 in a number ofthe views, from a clip 88 withempty shell cases 85, said receiver beingtlxedly mounted in the gunners basket as will be clear from views suchas Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and Fig. 19.'

The gun carries a deilector 81 for properly directing the ejected shellcases into the receiver 86 regardless of the extent to which the gun beelevated or depressed, and said receiver may be provided with downwardlyyieldable spring-raised doors 88 (Fig. 19) which prevent accidentalemptying of the shell cases therefrom when the aircraft is flying at asevere angle or inverted. The front wall 88 of the receiver 86, abovethe doors 88, (Fig. 19) may be mounted for forward yielding as shown at90 when struck by the rear portion of the gun upon severe elevation ofthe latter.

A rack 9| (see Figs. 1, 2 and 42 to 46) is provided for holding a numberof the clips 88 carrying the rounds 82, in the gunners basket withinconvenient reach of his right hand, said rack being preferably mountedon one side of the shell case receiver 86. The structure of this rackand the construction of the clips which it holds, will be hereinafterdescribed.

At the upper end of the receiver 86, a guard 82 may well extend aroundthe rear portion of the gun for safety, said guard being preferably oi'such wind resistance as to balance the wind resistance against the frontportion of the gun so that wind pressure will not interfere with easyturning of the gun about its vertical axis.

The trunnions l60 above described support a cradle shown at |04. in anumber of the main views, and the gun. barrel |05 is slidably mounted insaid cradle in any preferred way so that it may recoil andcounter-recoil. A recoil check is shown at |06 and a ,counter-recoilspring at |01. and appropriate counter-poise mechanism may be employedas illustrated in a general way at |08.

- The gun barrel |05 is provided with a vertically slidable breech block|08 carrying a conventional firing pin ||0 and a bell crank or searlever ||I connected with said pin. Suitable ejectors Il! are provided toeject the shell cases 85 when the breech block |09 lowers upon recoil ofthe barrel |05, said ejectors serving also to hold said breech block inlowered position until the next round iso is loaded into the gun breech.For operating the ejectors I I2 and for causing them to temporarily lockthe breech block- |09 lowered, studs ||3 are provided on the electorsmounted in slots I |4 In the breech portion of the gun and operable ingrooves IIS in the sides of the breech block (see Fig. 19). I have notgone into any particular detail with regard to these structuralfeatures, for they are lmown.

The rearportion of the gun barrel carries a transverse rock shaft |I6having an arm ||1 conneeted with the breech block |09, for lowering andraising said breech block, one end of said shaft ||6 being preferablysquared as seen in Fig. 15 to be engaged by a hand crank or the like,ii'ldesired. The other end of shaft ||6 is provided with an operatingarm I8 (Figs. 15 and 16) which is cooperable with a known one-way dog|I9 (Figs. 15 and 16) to lower the breech block |08 after recoil hasoccurred and counter-recoil has started., Upon recoil of the gun barrel,the arm ||8 merely swings the dog ||9 out of its way as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 15 but upon counter-recoil, dog ||9 operates arm ||8 toturn shaft ||6 and lower the breech block. When this occurs, theejectors I2 eject the empty shell case 86 and then serve to hold thebreech block lowered until a new round is inserted.

Suitably connected with the shaft ||6 is the chain of an assemblage ofchain |20, piston |2|, and spring I22. When the breech block |09 lowers,the chain |20 is pulled, causing movement of the piston |2| to compressthe spring I22. As soon as the breech block is released by insertion ofa round into the gun barrel, spring |22 expands and moves piston |2| andchain |20 to again raise the breech block. During this raising, the bellcrank or sear lever III coacts with a nose |23 on a trigger shaft |24 toretract the firing pin as shown in Fig. 3. If the gun be set for manualcontrol as hereinafter described, the firing pin ||0 will remainretracted until the gunner depresses the firing pedal 19 but if the gunbe set for automatic operation, said firing pin will be released as soonas the breech block |09 is entirely closed. The trigger shaft |24 isprovided on one end with a trigger arm |25 which is in the rearward pathof an arm |26 (Fig. 15), said arm |26 being loosely pivoted at |21 tothe left side of the breech portion of the gun barrel. The rear end of alongitudinally extending rod |28 abuts the arm |26 (see Figs. 15,25, 26and 28) said rod |28 extending forwardly through a .suitable guidingcasing |29 and being provided with a spring |30, said spring beingoperable to rearwardly force said rod "|28 to effect firing of the gun,after said rod is forwardly forced to compress spring |30 and thenreleased. In order to force this rod |28 forwardly to compress thespring |30, I showthe piston |2| with an upward projection |3I andlocate the lower end of the arm |26 in the forward path of saidprojection, as will be clear from Figs. 15 and 16. When the breech block|09 is lowered and the piston |2| is consequently pulled forwardly, theprojection |3| swings the arm |26 forwardly and when counter-recoil hasalmost been completed, said arm |26 contacts with rod and compressingspring |30. 'If the gun be set for manual operation, the rod' |28 willremain inits forward position due to the latching means hereinafterdescribed, but if the gun be set for automatic operation, just as soonas the breech block closes and arm |26 is no longer held by theprojection |3| of piston |2|, spring |30 actuates the |28 forcing itforwardly |33 (Fig. 15) to limit the forward movementv of said arm.

A latch |34 (Figs. 2, 25, 26 and 28) is provided for coaction with therod |28 to hold the latter against movement under the influence of thespring |30 after said rod has been forwardly moved to compress saidspring, but this latch |34 is permitted to function only if the gun isbeing manually instead of automatically fired. If manual firing is to beeffected, the latch |34 is allowed to hold the rod |28 in the forwardposition shown in Figs. 26 and 28, until firing is to be accomplished.Then, the release of latch |34 will allow rod |28 to move rearwardlyunder the iniiuence of the spring |30, tripping the firing mechanism asabove explained. If the gun is being automatically operated, the latch|34 is held in released position so that after each for-- ward movementand release of rod |28, spring |30 will rearwardly slide said rod assoon as the breech block closes.

In thehpresent showing, the latch |34 is in the form of'an inverted Lpivotally mounted at |35 upon the portion |36 of the cradle whichcontains the counter-recoil spring |01, and the horizontal arm of saidlatch is co-operable with a downwardly projecting stud |31 on the frontend of rod |28. The vertical arm of the latch |34 is pivotally connectedat |38 with a shaft |39 (Figs. 24, 25,. 26 and 28), said shaft passingrotatably through a portion of the barrel |36 and being also slidable.Pulling the shaft |39 in one direction releases the latch |34 andcompresses a spring |40 which surrounds said shaft. A slidable member|4| connected with the cable 80 above described, is provided for pullingthe shaft in latchreleas' ing direction and then releasing said shaft ifmanual firing is to be effected, or for pulling said shaft tolatch-releasing position and holding it in this position if automaticfiring is to be carried out. The member |4| is provided with one camportion |44 for coaction with the lug |42 when manual firing is to beeffected, and is provided with another cam portion |45 for coaction withthe long lug |43 when the gun is to fire automatically, and the shaft|39 may be turned by means of a crank |46 to dispose either of said lugsin operative relation with the member |4I or to so locate said lugs thatneither one of them can be engaged by said member |4|. A latch pin |41is slidable in the handle of the crank |46 and is releasable by a knob|48, said latch pin being used for holding the shaft |39 in any one ofits three positions. When this shaft is set as shown in Figs. 24 and 25,each time the member |4| is pulled by the cable 80, the cam portion |44engages the short lug |42, pulling the shaft |39 to release the latch|34, allowing ring of the gun, and just as soon as the latch has beenreleased, said cam portion |44 releases the lug 42 and spring |4 returnssaid shaft |39, so that latch |34 is in readiness to again hold rod 28when this rod is again forced forwardly. For manual firing, theoperator, of course, releases the foot pedal 19 after the shot has beenfired,

whereupon a spring device |50 returns the member |4| to its normalposition.

When the shaft |39 is turned to place the long lug |43 in operativerelation with the cam portion |45 oi the member 4|, the gunner willdepress the foot pedal 19 and hold itdepressed.

' This causes the cam portion |45 of member |4| to Vlt is forcedforwardly, thus effecting automatic firing. When shaft |39 is set in aneutral position, operation of member |4| cannot eil'ect movement ofsaid shaft.

The member |4| is of the L-shape shown. in

Fig. 27, being bifurcated to straddle a iixed track |5| which issuitably secured to the gun cradle, said track |5| having a longitudinalslot |52 which receives a pin |53 carried b y the member |4|. Thismember |4| is thus effectively guided and is allowed a tilting movementas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 27. This tilting movement is necessaryin order to allow member |4| to pass the end of shaft |39 carrying thelugs |42 and |43 as member |4| is returned to its normal position by thespring device |50, said member |4| then clicking idly over said lug |42.

A pivotally supported. lock |54 is provided, capable of positivelylocking the rod |28 in guncocked position. In the present showing, thislock is in the form of an arm pivotally suspended from a crank arm |55on a longitudinal shaft |56 which extends along the left side of themagazine 84 and projects forwardly from it as seen more particularly inFigs. 2 and 28. When the lock or arm |54 is in lowered position as seenin the views just mentioned. it is in the rearward path of an upwardprojection |51 on the front end of rod |28 and this rod is thereforeheld against movement in gun-firing direction. A spring device |58 isprovided to move the lock |54 downwardly when permitted to do so, and afeeler |59 on the rear end of shaft |56 is provided for co-action withthe rounds 82 in the magazine 84 to prevent said lock from holding therod |28 until the last round from the magazine has been loaded into thegun. When -this last round has been loaded however, feeler |59 permitsspring |58 to depress lock 54 to the position shown most clearly inFigs. 26 and 28, thereby holding the rod |28 so that the round cannot befired. The empty clip is now removed from the magazine 84 and a new clipis inserted, and one of the rounds of this new clip will engage thefeeler |59 and it will release the lock |54 so that operation of the gunmay continue either automatically or manually controlled. If the lastround from the magazine were ired after insertion into the barrelbreech, further automatic operation could not be effected upon insertionof a new clip, without first loading the gun by hand. Such hand loadinghowever, is not required by leaving one uniired round in the gun, asabove described.

When the gun has been automatically operating and the last round isloaded into it, the gunner of course releases the foot pedal 19 beforeinserting a new clip of rounds into the magazine 84. 'I'his insures thatby the time the lock |54 is released, latch |34 will be in position tohold the rod |28 against movement in gun-firing direction. Otherwise,the rod |28 would effect gun firing immediately upon insertion of a newclip and consequent release of lock |54.

A loading tray |60 (Figs. 3, 5, 6, 15, 16, 30, 33, 37, 38 and 39) isprovided for moving the rounds from the magazine 84 and placing them oneat a time in position to be forced into the breech of the barrel, and atelescopic plunger |6| provided with an operating spring |62, isslidably mounted in said tray |60 for forcing the rounds from the trayinto the breech. 'I'he opposite sides of the tray |60 are provided withlongitudinal channelshaped guideways |63 shown in elevation in l number.of the views just referred to and illustrated in transverse section inFig. 47. Two slide bars |64 are slidably mounted in the guideways |63,and the lower ends of front and rear parallel arms |65 and-i 66 arepivoted to said bars at |61 and |68 respectively, the upper ends ofthese arms being pivotally mounted on the cradle |04 as denoted at |69and |10 respectively. A longitudinal operating bar or rod |1| (Figs. 2,7 to 13, 33, 37 and 38) is pivotally connected as at its rear end withone of the arms |65. In the present showing, this bar or rod |1| ispivoted at |12 to the lower end of a short arm |13 which is connectedwith the left arm |65 to move bodily therewith through theinstrumentality of the pivot |69 of this arm. The bar or rod |1| isslidable in a guideway |14 formed in the left side of the cradle |04 asseen in elevation in Fig. 2 and in transverse section in Fig. 16. Thefront end of the bar or rod |1| is provided with a rack bar |15 which isslidable in a casing |16 rigidly mounted on the cradle |04 at the frontend of the guideway |14. For this rack bar and associated features nowto be described, see more particularly Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive and Fig.48. This back bar |15 meshes with a pinion |11 which is rotatablycarried by a slide |18 mounted in the casing |16. In the presentshowing, this casing includes a removable upper section |19 slidablefrom the major portion of said casing but normally held in place by akey |80. Also slidable in the casing |16 is another rack bar |8|, therear end of which is denoted at |8I for future reference. A spring |82in the casing |16 urges the rack bar |15 and the bar or rod |1|forwardly and another spring |83 exerts a rearward pressure on the rackbar |8|. When spring |63 is allowed to slide the rack bar |8| rearwardlyto the position shown in Figs. 8, 11, 12 and 48. said rack bar causesthe pinion |11 to roll rearwardly along the rack bar |15, said pinionthus causing rearward sliding of the slide |18. A springlowered latch|84 is mounted in the casing |16 to lower and hold the slide |18 in itsrearward position as seen in Figs. 8, 11 and 12. Thus, when the rack bar|8| is pushed forwardly, the pinion |11 will rotate and will rearwardlyslide the rack bar |15, thus rearwardly pushing the bar or rod |1| todownwardly swing the arms |65 and |66, lowering the loading tray |60from its raised round-receiving position (Figs. 5, 30, 38 and 39) to itslowered round-placing position (Figs. 6 and 33) When the tray |60reaches this lowered position, it is temporarily held by a latch |66*and while so held the plunger orram |6| which was previously moved tothe position of Fig. 30. forces the round 82 from the tray |60 as seenin Fig. 33. Latch |60 isl released as the plunger or ram forces theround from the tray. 'I'his latch and its releasing means will behereinafter described in full.

The rear end |8|' of rack bar |8|, when the the rack bar |8| is held inthe forward position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. When the gun isiired and the barrel recoils, the barrel portion |85 moves rearwardlyfrom the end |8|' of rack bar |8| and the spring |83 then expands,forcing rack bar |8| rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8 andcausing rearward rolling of pinion |11 along rack bar |15. This causesrearward movement of the slide |18 and when this slide reaches the limitof its rearward movement,v

the spring-pressed latch |84 lowers to hold said slide against forwardreturn as seen in Fig. 8. During the last portion of the counter-recoilof the gun barrel, the part |85 again strikes the end |8| of'rack bar|8|, pushing this rack bar forwardly from the position of Fig. 8slightly beyond the position disclosed in Fig. 9. During this movementof rack bar |8|, the Pinion |11 is driven by said rack bar, said pinionforcing rearwardly on the rack bar |15 and rearwardly sliding the rod"or bar |1| to lower the loading tray |60. When this tray is completelylowered, it is held by latch |60EL until the plunger or ram I 6|releases this latch. A cam |86 on the rack bar I8| releases the latch|84, freeing the slide |18 and allowing spring |82 to forwardly slidethek rod or bar |1|, thereby again raising the loading tray |60 intoposition to receive the next round, as will be clear from Fig. 10.Additional springsA |82a acting upwardly upon the rear of the tray |60may be provided to aid spring |82. To confine the loading tray tovertical movement as the arms |65 and |66 swing, any suitable means maybe provided, such as the upstanding guide |81 on the rear end of saidtray and the relatively stationary pin or the like |88 passing throughlsaid guide and suitably mounted on the cradle |04.

When the loading tray |60 is returned to its raised position, theplunger |6| is in projected position as seen in Fig. 3. A lug |89however on the-rear portion of the gun barrel (see Figs.

3, 16 and 30) is rearwardly movable in a slot |90 in the bottom of thetray |60 as the barrel recoils, to rearwardly telescope said plunger |6|to the position shown in Fig. 30. A spring-pressed ylatch |9| is mountedin a suitable housing |92 carried by the rear end of the tray |60 toengage a shoulder |93 on the foremost section of the plunger to holdthis plunger in the telescoped position shown in Fig. 30 until the tray|60 has lowered a round and placed it at the breech of the barrel. Forthen releasing the latch |9| yand allowing the plunger |6| to expand totheposition of Fig. 33 to load the gun, I provide a latch-releasing cam|94 (see Figs. 3, 5, 6, 30, 33, 37 to 39 and 47), said cam being carriedby the center of an arched bar |95 which extends over the tray |60 andhas its ends rigidly secured to the slide bars |64. It will be recalledthat these slide bars move rearwardly as the loading tray |60 lowers,and it will be clear from Figs. 6 and 33 that when saisi tray |60 hasreached its loweredl round-placing position (Fig. 33), and has lbeenheld therein by latch |60, the cam |94 will release latch |9|, allowingspring |62 to project the plunger |6|, thereby moving the round 82 fromthe tray |60 into the gun breech. Projecly fires or may be caused to remanually.A -In either instance, the next recoil of the barrel causes lug|89 to re-telescope plunger |6| to the position shown in Fig. 30 so thatthe loading tray |60 is in condition to receive another round 82 fromthe magazine 84.

, The latch |60a is of U-shape and straddles the rear portion of thetray |60, the ends of said latch being pivoted at |60b to lugs |91 whichproject downwardly from said tray and carry the defiector 81 and springdevices 200 instrumental in holding said deiiector engaged with a track|99. The side arms of the latch |6|)a are pro-l vided with lugs |60 toengage notches |60d in the slide bars |64 when these slide bars moverearwardly upon lowering of the tray |60 to round-placing position,thereby holding said slide bars against the necessary forward movementincident to tray raising and therefore holding said tray in loweredround-placing position until released. The intermediate portion of latch|60EL is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm |60a having a beveledextremity |601, and a spring |60g acting upwardly on said arm, serves tomove the latch to operative position. One section |6| of the plunger |6|projects rearwardly at |6|b and carries an upper lug |6|c and a lowerlug |6|d, the latter having a beveled e-nd |6| cooperable with thebeveled end |60t of an arm |60e to release the vlatch |60a when saidplunger section |6|a moves forwardly upon the final forward movement ofthe plunger |6|. The section |6|a is held against prematurelatch-releasing forward movement by a spring |6|. This spring bearsagainst the lug |6| and surrounds a guide rod |6|S which is secured toand projects forwardly from the lug |6|, said guide rod |6| passingslidably through a guide I6 Ih which abuts the spring |6|f and iscarried by a screw plug |6|l in the rear end of the plunger |6|, `saidplug being apertured to allow the rear end |6|h of the plunger section|6|i=l to pass therethrough.

When thetray |60 is lowered to round-placing position, it is held by thelatch |60 until the plunger |6| has forced the round well into thebreech of the gun, and the nal movement of said plunger causes the lug|6|d to engage arm |60e swinging the latch |6|!a downwardly andreleasing its lugs |60c from the slide bar notches |60, allowing returnof the tray |60 to raised position in readiness to receive another roundfrom the magazine.

The casing of the magazine 84 is cylindrical with its axis disposedlongitudinally of the gun and the lower side of this casing is formedwith an exit slot 20| through which the rounds 82 are fed to the loadingtray |60, said slot being shown more particularly in Figs. 16 and 33.One side of this slot is cooperable with a finger 202 (Fig. 16) to causesaid finger to hold the rounds in the tray |60 during the rapid descentof the latter, said nger 202 being pivoted at 203 on said tray |60 asshown in a number of the views in which said tray is illustrated. Thefinger 202 (see Fig. 16) may swing upwardly as a round is fed under it,through the slot 20| and into the tray |60 and even if said fingershould remain in its upwardly swung position, as soon as the tray startsdownwardly,vsaid finger is righted and held in operative position by theedge wall 204 of the slot, with which a lug 205 on the pivoted end ofthe finger coacts. v

The cylindrical side wall of the magazine casing may well be integralwith the top 206 of the cradle |04 but the front end wall 201 of saidcasing is preferably a separate piece bolted on. This wall 201 rigidlycarries a tubular shaft 208 which is disposed within and co-axially withthe magazine casing. A tubular hub 208 of a spider 2|0 (see for instanceFigs. 15, 16, 21 and 22) is rotatable upon the tubular shaft 208, thespider arms being receivable between the rounds 82 held by the clip 88,one of the clip-held rounds being shown in the magazine in Fig. 3.

The rear end of the tubular shaft 208 contains suitable latch means 2||(see Fig. 23) for holding the clip 88 in the magazine and for preventingrotation of said clip while the rounds 82 are being fed from said clipand on into the loading tray. The front end of the shaft 208 contains aspring-pressed ratchet pawl 2I2. carried by an oscillatory plug 2|8, asshown more particularly in Fig. 21. The pawl 2I2 operates through a slot2|4 in the shaft 208 to engage openings 2|5 in the spider hub 208 forthe purpose of rotating the latter step-by-step as required. Otheropenings 2|8 (Fig. 22) are formed in the hub 208 and these openings areco-operable with a spring-pressed dog 2|1 for the purpose of holding thespider 2|0 after each turning movement thereof. I'he dog 2|1 is mountedin a plug 2|8 secured in the tubular shaft 208 and said dog is providedwith a lateral finger 2|9 cooperable with a cam 220 on the plug 2|3,said cam and finger serving to release the dog 2|1 at the proper timeto-allow the ratchet pawl 2|2 to turn the spider 2|0. and then servingto permit engagement of said dog with the next opening 2|6 to properlyhold said spider in the position to which it has been turned.

'I'he oscillatory plug 2|8 is provided with a crank arm 22| (see moreparticularly Figs. 4, 40 and 41), said arm 22| being connected by a link222 with an actuating arm 228. This actuating arm is slidably keyed at224 to a shaft 225 which is mounted for rotation and for sliding in asuitable tubular bearing 228 carried by the cradle |04 directly inadvance of the magazine. The bearing 228 carries a stud 221 whichengages a pitched cam groove 228 in the shaft 225, for turning thisshaft in one direction when the shaft is slid rearwardly and for turningsaid shaft in the other direction when said shaft is slid forwardly.This turning of shaft 225 causes the arm 223, link 222 and arm 22| tooscillate the plug 2I3 causing the ratchet means to turn the spider 2|0in the proper direction.

The rear end of the shaft 225, when the gun is in battery position,abuts the front end of the barrel portion in which the breech block |09is slidably mounted, a spring 228 which abuts the front end of saidshaft being then under compression. This spring 228 is within a suitabletubular housing 280. See for instance Figs. 17 and 40. Upon the recoilof the gun barrel, the spring 228 slides the shaft 225 rearwardly andthe stud 221 and cam groove 228 then turn said shaft in one direction,causing the ratchet pawl 2I2 to move retrogradely to release dog 2| 1and engage one of the openings 2|5 in the spider hub 208. When thebarrelcounter-recoils, it pushes the shaft 225 forwardly, turning said shaftin the other direction and causing the ratchet pawl 2|2 to turn thespider 2|0 to the proper extent for feeding one of the rounds 82 intothe raised loading tray I 80. When the plug 2|8 has been turnedsufficiently, its cam 220 releases the finger 2|8 of the dog 2|1 andthelatter is therefore in readiness to enter the next opening 2|8 whicharrives under it, so that the spider 2|0 will be held in the position towhich it has been turned.

The construction of the clip 88 will be clear by reference to Fig. 23and Figs. 44, 45 and 48. This clip consists primarily of a substantiallyc-shaped nat plate 28| having inturned flanges or the like 282 along itsinner and outer edge! to provide a channel to engage the usual ribs onthe rear ends of the shell cases. One end of this channel is providedwith a closure 288 (Figs. 44 and 46) andthe other end of said channel isprovided with a resilient gate 284 (Fig. 48). The inner side of theplate 28| is equipped with an arcuate flange 288 extending around theinner edge of said plate and the outer side of said plate is providedwith a suitable handle 288. By means of this handle, the clip may betaken from the rack 8l and inserted into the magazine. vin which it isheld by the latch means 2|| above described. When the round-carryingclipis inserted into the magazine, the gate 284 strikes a projection 281carried by a cover plate 288' for the rear portion of cradle |84, sothat said gate is released and held in released position, saidprojection 281 being shown in Figs. 1, 30 and 33. With the gate soreleased, the spider 2|0 can slide the rounds one at a time from theclip and when one clip is empty, it is removed and another inserted.

I'he clip rack 8| includes a vertical shaft or rod 288 (see moreparticularly Figs. 42 to 46) which is rotatably mounted in appropriatebrackets, one of which is shown at 288. The upper end of the shaft orrod 288 is provided with a spring-lowered latch member 240 which isslidably pinned thereon and is formed with a knob 24|. By raising andturning this knob, the shaft or rod 288 may be turned. Secured upon thisrod at vertically spaced points are a number of supporting bodies 242for the clips 88, said bodies being straddled by the C-shaped plates 28|and the similarly shaped flanges 285. Each body 242 is provided with alower flange 248 and with an upper iiange 244 to engage the clip andhold it against vertical movement, and each of said bodies is equippedwith a spring-lowered latch member 245, the various latch members beingadapted to engage the clips 88 as seen more particula'rly in Fig. 46 tohold said, clips upon the rack. .Releasing levers 248 are provided forthese latch members 245. These levers 248 are so located with respect tothe clip handles 288 that the gunner may operate the releasing lever forany clip with the hand which he uses to grasp the handle 288 forremoving the clip from the rack.

The bodies 242 are so mounted on the pipe or rod 288 that the handles288 of the clips are nested with the rounds held by said clips. Thehandle of the uppermost clip for example, would be to the left of therod 0r the like 238 in Fig. 43,

the next clip would have its handle to the right of said rod or thelike, the next clip handle would be to the left, etc. To bring thehandle of any .clip to an accessible position, the rod or the like 288may be rotated by means of the knob 24| after lifting said knob torelease the latch 248, the knob being then released to cause said latchto again lock the rod or the like 288. The uppermost clip is removedfirst, the rod then turned one-half revolution, the next clip removed,and so on until al1 of the clips have been fired.

While the operation of the structure as a Whole would probably beunderstood from explanations hereinbefore given in connection with thevarious groups of coacting elements, it may be briey explained asfollowsz-The initial round is. of course, inserted by hand bymanforwardly thereby moving the rod |28 to guncocked position andcompressing the spring |30. We will now assume that the crank |46 (Figs.26 and 28) has been moved upwardly and forwardly to the one sh'otposition so that the latch |34 will hold the rod |28 in its forwardgun-cocked position. After inserting the first round by hand,

the breech block is allowed to close under the inuence of the spring |22and as said breech block closes, the bell crank and finger |23 coact toretract -the firing pin ||0 and hold it retracted as seen in Fig. 3.Depression of the firing pedal 19 will now pull cable 80 and actuate themem' ber` 4| to pull the shaft |39 in a direction to re` lease the latch|34, allowing rod |28 to slide rearwardly under the influence of spring|30 to trip the firing pin ||0 to re the round. It is to be recalledthat at this time, the lock |54 is held in released position by one ofthe rounds in the magazine contacting with the feeler |59, so that saidlock will not interfere with rearward sliding of the rod |28. As soon asthe round is red, recoil ofthe barrel occurs, causing the breech portion|85 of said barrel to recede'from the end |8I' of the rack bar |8| andfrom the shaft 225. Release of the rack bar |8| causes the entireactuating means for the loading tray |60 to move to the set positionshown in Fig. 8, under the influence of the spring |83. Release of shaft225 causes spring 229 to slide said shaft rearwardly, setting theratchet mechanism in the magazine 84 in readiness to turn the spider 2I0. The recoil of the barrel also causes the projection |89 to telescopethe plunger |6I, and the latch |9| holds it in the telescoped position,as seen in Fig. 30. As the barrel slides rearwardly during recoil, thebreech block-operating arm ||8 moves idly past the dog or the like ||9and as counter-recoil occurs, said parts I8 and 9 turn the shaft ||5 tolower'the breech block |09 causing the ejectors ||2 to eject the emptyshell case 85 and causing the studs ||3 to hold said breech blocklowered. This lowering of the breech block again engages the rod |28with the latch |34. As counter-recoil continues, the shaft 225 is againslid forwardly causing such movement of arm 223 and connected parts asto turn the spider 2|0 suiciently to feed a round from the magazine intothe raised loading tray |60 in advance of the telescoped plunger IBI. Ascounter-recoil continues, the rear end |8I of the rack bar |8| isforwardly pushed with the result that rearward sliding of the rod or bar|1| is effected, said bar then serving to lower the loading tray |60 tothe round-placing position shown in Fig.- 33. When this position isreached, the tray is held by latch |60"-. Then, the cam |94 releases thelatch |9| and the plunger |8| is forwardly projected by means of thespring |62, forcing the round 82 from the tray |60 into the breech ofthe gun. By the time this occurs, latch |60*l is released by lug |6I,and the springs |82 and |82EL act to again effect raising of the loadingtray |80, and it will be recalled that insertion of the round 82 intothe breech so moves the ejectors I I2 as to release the breech block|09. This breech block is then-immediately closed by means of the spring|22 and associated parts, and during the closing movement of said breechblock, the ring pin ||0 is retracted and held retracted. The gun is nowin readiness for firing the second shot, the various parts having beenreturned to battery position.

If the crank |46 be set for automatic operation, the gunner depressesthe firing pedal 19 and holds it depressed so that the member |4| willhold the shaft |39 and in turn hold the latch |34 in released position.With this latch so held, it cannot hold .the rod |28 the next time thelatter is forced forwardly by arm |26,but said rod |28 is then heldagainst rearward movement by said arm |26 and the piston portion |3I.Consequently, just as soon as the breech block is closed after theautomatic loading of the round into the breech, the rod |28 will be slidrearwardly by the spring |30 causing arm |26 to strike the trigger arm|25, releasing the firing pin ||0 and ring the round. The gun will nowoperate automatically as long as the firing pedal 19 is held depresseduntil the last round from the magazine 84 has been loaded into thebreech. When this has occurred, however, the lockl |54 automaticallyprevents ilring of this last round until the magazine is reloaded.

Whether the gun is being operatedv in a single shot manner orautomatically, all of the ejected shell cases are directed into thereceiver 86 by the deflector 81.

The gunner may easily elevate or depress the gun by operating the handwheel 6|, he may conveniently rotate the entire basket and gun totraverse the latter by engaging the hand grips 61 with his right hand,and the basket may be held in any position to which it has been rotatedby depressing the brake pedal 11. The clips on the rack 9| are withinconvenient reach and the `gunner may rapidly remove an'empty clip fromthe magazine, remove a full clip from said rack, and insert this clipinto the magazine. Such insertion causes the feeler |59 to release thelock |54 soA that operation of the gun may be continued.

-Whenever desired, the crank |46 may be set in its neutral or safeposition so that any movement which'may be imparted to the member .|4|by the firing pedal 19, will not cause firing of the gun.

Attention is again invited to the possibility of making numerousvariations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

1. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a cradle-carried barrelwhich recoils and counterrecoils; a loading tray mounted on said cradlefor movement from a raised round-receiving position to a loweredround-placing position, said tray occupying said raised round-receivingposition during recoil of said barrel, a retractible self-projectingloading plunger operable in said tray, means for retracting said plungerupon the recoil of said barrel, means for holding said plunger inretracted position to allow dropping of a round into said loading tray,means operable upon the counter-recoil of said barrel for lowering saidloading tray to said round-placing position, and means for releasingsaid plunger-holding means when the tray reaches said roundplacingposition.

2. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a cradle-carried barrelwhich recoils 4and counterrecoils; a loading tray mounted on said cradlefor movement from a raised round-receiving position to a loweredround-placing position, said tray occupying said raised round-receivingposition during recoil of said barrel, a retractible selfprojectingloading plunger mounted in said loading tray in position to be kicked bysaid barrel to retracted position when the barrel recoils, means forholding said plunger in retracted position to allow dropping of a roundinto said loading tray, means operable upon the counter-recoil of saidbarrel for lowering said loading tray to said round-placing position,and means for releasing said plunger-holding means when the tray reachessaid round-placing position.

3. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a barrel which recoils andcounter-recoils; a longitudinally extending channel-shaped loading trayhaving guides along its opposite sides, slides engaged with said guides,front and rear parallel arms pivotally mounted on said cradle andpivoted to said slides for moving said tray from a raisedround-receiving position to a lowered roundplacing position, said trayoccupying said roundreceiving position during recoil of the barrel,means for conning said tray to substantially vertical movement, aretractible self-projecting loading plunger slidably mounted in saidtray in position to be kicked by said barrel to retracted position whensaid barrel recoils, a plunger-holding latch mounted on the aforesaidtray for holding 'said plunger in retracted position to allow droppingof a round into said tray, means operable upon the counter-recoil of thebarrel for swinging' said arms to lower said tray to said round-placingposition, and means carried by at y least one of the aforesaid slidesfor releasing said latch whensaid tray reaches said round-placingposition.

4. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a cradle-carried barrelwhich recoils and counterrecoils; a loading tray mounted on said cradlefor movement from a raised round-receiving position to a loweredround-placing position, said tray occupying said raised round-receivingposition during recoil of said barrel, a retractible self-projectingloading plunger operable in said tray, means for retracting said plungerupon the recoil of said barrel, means for holding said plunger inretracted position to allow dropping of a round into said loading tray,means operable upon the counter-recoil of said barrel for lowering saidloading tray to s'aid round-placing position, means for holding saidloading tray in said round-placing position, means for releasing saidplunger-holding means while said tray is held in said round-placingposition, and means for releasing said tray-holding means as said`plunger forces the round from the tray.

5. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a cradle-carried barrelwhich recoils and counterrecoils; a loading tray mounted on said cradlefor movement from a raised round-receiving position to a loweredround-placing position, said tray occupying said raised round-receivingposition during recoil of said barrel, a retractible self-projectingloading plunger operable in said tray, means for retracting said plungerupon the recoil of said barrel, means for holding said plunger inretracted position to allow dropping of .a round into said loading tray,means operable upon the counter-recoil of saidbarrel for lowering saidloading tray to said round-placing position, means for holding saidloading tray in said round-placing position, means i'or releasing saidplunger-holding means While said tray is held in said round-placingposition, and means connected with and actuated by said plunger forreleasing said tray-holding means as said plunger forces the round fromthe tray.

6. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a barrel which recoils andcounter-recoils; a longitudinally extending channel-shaped loading trayhaving guides along its opposite sides, slides engaged with said guides,front and rear parallel arms pivotally mounted on said cradle andpivoted to said slides for moving said trayfrom a raised round-receivingposition to. a lowered round-placing position, said tray occupying saidround-receiving position during recoil of the barrel, means forconfining said tray to substantially vertical movement, a retractibleself-projecting loading plunger slidably mounted in said tray inposition to be kicked by said barrel to retracted position when saidbarrel recoils, a plungerholding latch mounted on the aforesaid tray forholding said plunger in retracted position to allow dropping of a roundinto said tray, means operable upon the counter-recoil of the barrel forswinging said arms to lower said tray to said round-placing position, aslide-holding latch mounted on said tray and engageable with at leastone of said slides to hold said tray in said round-placing position,means for releasing said plunger-holding latch while said tray is heldin said round-placing position, and means connected with and actuated bysaid plunger for releasing said slide-holding latch as said plungerforces the round from the tray.

7. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a barrel which recoils andcounter-recoils; a longitudinally extending channel-shaped loading trayhaving guides along its opposite sides, slides engaged with said guides,iront and rear parallel arms pivotally mounted on said cradle andpivotedto said slides forv moving said tray from a raisedround-receiving position to a lowered round-placing position, said trayoccupying said round-receiving position during recoil of the barrel,means for confining said tray to substantially vertical movement, aretractible self-projecting loading plunger slidably mounted in saidtray in position to be kicked by said barrel to retracted position whensaid barrel recoils, a plunger-holding latch mounted on the aforesaidtray for holding said plunger in retracted position to allow dropping ofa round into said tray, means operable upon the counter-recoil of thebarrel for swinging said arms to lower said tray to said round-placingposition, a U-shaped slide-holding latch straddling and pivoted totherear portion of said tray, said slide-holding latch being engageablewith said slides to hold said tray in said round-placing position, meansfor releasing said plunger-holding latch while said tray is held in saidround-placing position, and a releasing lug for said slide-holding latchcarried by said plunger, said releasing lug and said slide-holding latchhaving coacting portions for releasing this latch as the lplunger forcesthe round from the tray.

8. In a self-loading gun having a cradle and a barrel which recoils andcounter-recoils; a longitudinally extending channel-shaped loading trayhaving uides along its opposite sides, slides engaged th said guides,front and rear parallel arms pivotally mounted on said cradle andpivoted to said slides for moving said tray from a raisedround-receiving position to a lowered round-placing position, said trayoccupying said round-receiving position during recoil of the barrel,means for confining said tray to'substantially vertical movement, aretractible self-projecting

